PeaceWalker Blog

  And just like that the Holidays are here! You’ve heard me say it before, but it bears repeating… The holidays are a great time of joy, but also stressful, so get ready… Prepare yourself! With the holidays so close, I thought it would be a good time to talk about how to set boundaries. Amazing that many people don’t really know how to so, here’s a little tutorial. Boundary Setting 101 Boundaries are about creating rules of how you work. How you interact. What’s acceptable and what’s not. Kind of like a social safe word (Zamboni! =). Boundaries are about YOUR Actions, in relation to someone else’s. You aren’t telling someone else what to do, you are telling them what you are going to do. I call it an  If / Then  statement. When you declare your boundaries, make them short & clear. "If  you continue to yell at me,  then  our conversation is over.” “ If  you do that again,  then  our time together is done.” “ If  you talk to your mothe...

  Did you have a good Thanksgiving? Mine was good. A bit of a progressive involving a few stops…, but good all the same. I hope yours was as well?! I hope you were able to enjoy and be present in your gratefulness of all the things that you have. It’s easy to pay more attention of the things you lack. The things that are wrong. The things you’d like to change. This happens so much so that we often overlook all of the things in life that we do have, all the things in Life we can control. Same, Same?! It’s the same when it comes to dealing with conflict and violence. People often gravitate toward the things they can’t do rather than the things they can. Many waste precious time and energy fixating on all of the details they have little or no control over, rather than decisively acting on those things they have more influence on… Namely themselves. Here lies the practice of your training. Knowing what to focus and act upon vs. what not to. Seems simple enough, but many miss it. Rather...

  You may be running around getting everything ready for your family. All that work for a relativity speaking short period of time. It’s disproportionate… Or is it?! It’s NOT Just Dinner I hope you realize that what you are preparing and when you and your family and friends sit at that table isn’t just “dinner.” Thanksgiving is so much more than simply a dinner; it's a day steeped in meaning and connection. It's about gratitude—taking a moment to reflect on what we have, the people who enrich our lives and the lessons we’ve learned. It’s a time for community and togetherness with your family & friends. It’s also a chance to reconnect with traditions, both old and new. Whether it’s cooking side by side, sharing stories, or volunteering, Thanksgiving is a reminder of the values that bind us together: generosity, resilience, and love. For us PeaceWalkers, Thanksgiving takes on an added dimension. It becomes a celebration of the role we play in safeguarding and nurturing those ...

  You Ever Feel Cornered?! If you’re a Gen Xer like me you probably played your fair share of Pacman in your day. So, you know what I mean when I say don’t get cornered like Pacman. Well, you’re all grown up now, but sometimes you may still feel like you’re getting backed in a corner. What do you do!? WHAT - DO - YOU - DO?! Well… The last thing you want is to freeze up. Rather than panicking or muscling through, you can hack the situation with smart, tactical steps. Feeling trapped is an opportunity—a challenge to test and refine your approach to any obstacle. Here’s how to move forward with strategy, efficiency, and maybe even a little style. First,  pause and assess .  Don’t rush; slow down and identify the actions that will give you maximum impact. In that stillness, unexpected solutions often appear. Next,  leverage the obstacle’s energy .  Quit forcing or pushing blindly. Redirect, pivot, and adapt. The way forward may not look like you expected—stay flexib...

  Embracing this PeaceWalker Lifestyle is a stretch for some folks. Some people don’t understand the balance. The balance of Life. So, they suffer the consequences. Crossing the Street When I was a kid my mom & dad taught me how to cross the street. They told me to Stop, Look & Listen. Look both ways before walking onto the street. Am I showing disrespect, distrust and ill will toward those drivers when I look both ways before crossing the street? I believe it to not only responsible but also acting in service to those drivers as well. Would those drivers try to stop from hitting that pedestrian who walked into traffic without looking? Yes, I believe most would if they were in a position to. What about those drivers who might try to intentionally hit the pedestrian? Extremely rare, but it does happen. Regardless, for everyone’s best interest, it’s reasonable and responsible to look both ways before crossing the street, so you lessen the chance of getting hit. For those who ...

  Cross training is an important part of any training process. It doesn’t only make a difference when it comes to your sporting affairs though. Cross training at your job means someone can pick up the slack if someone calls in sick. Cross training is important in parenting too… so all of the responsibility doesn’t fall on one person. Martial arts is no exception. The entire premise of MMA is cross training. It’s called MIXED Martial Arts for a reason. So, are you cross training your Self Defense approach too?! Yes, are you cross training to protect yourself from the conflicts you are likely to run up against in your everyday Life?! WHAT?! Q: Do you mean getting a firearm?! A: No, not really. It could be I suppose, but that’s not really what I’m talking about. I’m talking more about becoming more well-rounded at dealing with conflict inside of and around you. Keep in mind most conflicts aren’t physical… They’re ethical, emotional, social and verbal. Most physical violence is a resul...

  It’s getting closer! The anticipation grows… The dark, foreboding day when all of the ogglie boogilies come out… And we Trick or Treated. You know… Election Day! =) (Hahaha! Don’t be afraid, get out there and cast your vote confidently, like Hermione casts her spells…) Many Walk in Fear That’s why… "WE TRAIN SO WE CAN WALK IN PEACE..." ~Imi Lichtenfeld   Conflict & violence is an Event and a Process. The more you can recognize the process, the easier it is to avoid & navigate an Event! Yes, there are places and situations where crime, conflict and violence are more prevalent, but make no mistake... It can happen to anyone, anywhere, anytime. It can happen to you too, so you have to be prepared. Awareanoid?! Being paranoid is no way to Live. However… AWAREANOID  is a constant state of readiness. It’s North of aware and South of paranoid. =) Don’t over think it… It’s simply being curious and prepared to do something about it. If you want to be able to avoid a situ...